English Education

The Grand Valley State University English Department is dedicated to the development of effective K-12 teachers. Our graduates will be able to recognize and generate quality methods for the teaching of the subject matter of the English Language Arts. Our graduates will seek to enhance their students' understanding of and interaction with the content of the discipline and of disciplines across the curriculum.

Those who graduate from our programs will be able to:

organize, present, and explain concepts and detailed content from the language arts appropriate to the classroom.

plan for teaching that engages the students in active learning, integrates the language arts "basics" (thinking, reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing), and integrates the language arts across the curriculum.

demonstrate detailed knowledge of classic and contemporary literature, as well as age-appropriate literature for children and adolescents, and of strategies for enhancing students' responses to texts at the emergent level of literacy and beyond.

demonstrate mastery of composing processes, and of strategies for generating and enhancing content and correctness appropriate to the students' developmental level.

work effectively in diverse communities seeking to provide the best education for each child.

Teacher Certification Objectives
All of our majors seeking teacher certification learn about historical developments in the teaching of English. Our teaching majors become proficient at generating theoretically sound ways of representing and formulating the subject matter of English studies, including language, literature, and writing.

Elementary Education
English majors in the elementary education track are taught to organize, present, and explain concepts from the language arts (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) appropriate to the elementary classroom. Our language arts students learn about current theoretical work in the field and practice planning and implementing teaching that is likely to engage students in learning the integrated language arts. Students also demonstrate their knowledge of classic and contemporary literature for children and strategies for enhancing students' responses to such texts. Finally, our students demonstrate mastery of the writing process and strategies for developing in students the content and correctness appropriate to the elementary level.

Secondary Education
English majors in the secondary education track are taught to organize, present, and explain concepts from the language arts appropriate to the secondary classroom. Our English education students learn about current theoretical work in the field and practice planning and implementing teaching that is likely to engage students in learning the integrated language arts. Students also demonstrate their knowledge of classic and contemporary literature for young adults and strategies for enhancing students' responses to such texts. Finally, our students demonstrate mastery of the writing process and strategies for developing in students the content and correctness appropriate to the secondary level.